Colorado Springs has submitted its application to participate in Google’s “Fiber for Communities” project to bring ultra-high speed broadband networks to one or more trial locations across the country.By “ultra-high speed” Google means Internet access about 100 times faster than most Americans have today.Curlie Mathews, the city’s chief information officer, said Google plans to select a city (or possibly two cities) with populations from 50,000 to 500,000.They’ll install fiber-optic cable throughout the city, directly to each home, making a reality of the long-imagined dream of “fiber to the home,” Mathews said.Plenty of Internet providers use fiber for their backbones, but most rely on copper wire to get to the home, he said, adding that the use of copper wire slows Internet speeds.According to its Web site, by having cities submit an application, Google wants “to identify interested communities and to assess local factors that will impact the efficiency and speed of our deployment, such as the level of community support, local resources, weather conditions, approved construction methods and local regulatory issues.”On March 3, Forbes.com awarded Colorado Springs a No. 6 ranking based on its high percentage of broadband use, its high percentage of home Internet users having high-speed connections and its high number of Wi-Fi hot spots per person.It’s the first time Colorado Springs was included in the Forbes list. The top five cities are Washington, D.C.; San Francisco, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Raleigh, N.C. Denver, Colo., was ranked No. 7.Whether that No. 6 ranking will work for or against Colorado Springs remains to be seen.On the plus side, the ranking identifies Colorado Springs as an Internet-savvy city.The city also has an advantage because, although there is only a tiny amount of fiber within city limits ñ i.e. Banning Lewis Ranch, Falcon Broadband already offers fiber to homes and businesses outside the city, in the Falcon area.Ben Kley, general manager of Falcon Broadband, said his company would be well-positioned to provide telephone and TV service over Google’s fiber, if Google chose Colorado Springs.”Google’s not in the content delivery business, and we’re already delivering content over fiber to homes and businesses today,” Kley said.”We support the city in applying for the project because it reinforces that the city and the community really want what we’re delivering.”Another plus: Google’s description of the project includes a goal to test the high-speed delivery of, for example, X-ray images to a rural health clinic.Mathews said the application addressed the city’s focus on technology, its military presence and its high number of defense contractors.Competition is likely to be stiff.”Some cities have gone all in. They’ve got billboards up and radio station ads. They’re really trying to show Google they really want to be selected,” Kley said.Pricing is up in the air. From Google’s Web site: “The final price has not yet been determined, but we intend to offer service at a competitive price.”Google plans to announce the selected city or cities this year after consulting with local government organizations and completing onsite visits with local officials.”I’m holding out hope we’ll be selected,” Mathews said.
